CHICAGO — After two straight video games with a blocked area aim try — and an NFL-high three this season — Bears kicker Cairo Santos mentioned he takes the blame for the “stink” on the unit after a 30-27 time beyond regulation loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Santos’ 48-yard try within the second quarter was blocked by Vikings defensive sort out Jerry Tillery. The way it occurred was just like his potential game-winning area aim getting blocked by the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 11.
Minnesota recovered the ball close to midfield after the block and shortly took a seven-point lead.
Identical to Inexperienced Bay gamers the week prior, Vikings particular groups gamers mentioned they’d been making ready all week to knock one down as a result of they knew that Santos’ low-trajectory kicks, mixed with weaknesses in Chicago’s safety, offered the proper recipe to stop factors.
“I take the blame in type of the stink that now we have on our area aim unit proper now,” Santos mentioned. “We have gone so many kicks in a row with out getting kicks blocked, 16 50-yarders the final two years not getting a kick blocked. And generally they occur like that, back-to-back.”
Chicago had not had three area aim makes an attempt blocked in a season since 2012.
“We do not actually cowl too many kickers which have one of these low trajectory,” Vikings security Theo Jackson mentioned. “Different weeks you are attempting to determine, like, at what hash is he higher on, left or proper hash? However I really feel like this week we had been chomping on the bit to get that.”
Santos later related on a 48-yard area aim to ship the sport into time beyond regulation tied at 27.
The veteran kicker, who signed a four-year contract extension final December, struggled to pinpoint potential downside areas along with his kicking trajectory that may very well be the basis of the blocks.
“It is exhausting for me to go on and alter as a result of I simply do not see a mis-hit kind of low kick, however I do have extra of a piercing, pushed ball flight simply to assist my make my kicks within the windy conditions,” Santos mentioned. “The wind wasn’t too unhealthy, however it’s at all times windy right here.
“You at all times attempt to hit the ball the identical, however this week I am at all times searching for how can I maximize my peak with my ball flight so I haven’t got to depend on taking part in the wind as a lot. So it is a studying curve for me too, and I take accountability for that.”
Vikings linebacker Jihad Ward mentioned particular groups coordinator Matt Daniels had mentioned they might get a block. Daniels’ teaching level was easy: Get an inside push.
“[Santos’] kicks are at all times a little bit decrease, so we emphasize getting extra push on the within this week,” Jackson mentioned. “As a result of if we get to our spot the place we’re alleged to be and put our fingers up, it is going to get blocked as a result of it has a low trajectory.”
Vikings gamers mentioned their scouting report on Santos with certainty, and so did two executives for different golf equipment which have performed towards the Bears inside the previous calendar yr. Groups that face Chicago know — and have recognized in earlier seasons — that there’s a actual alternative to dam Santos, higher than when going through a kicker with what scouts name a “large leg.”
Jackson mentioned Chicago’s safety is weak as a result of the linemen depart an excessive amount of area of their gaps.
“They provide up a whole lot of penetration in that space,” Jackson mentioned. “So when you see that on movie, that they consistently surrender a rush there, that is what we’re going to assault.”
Linebacker Pat Jones II mentioned he had anticipated Chicago to repair these safety points that the Vikings noticed on the Inexperienced Bay tape.
“That is type of uncommon, as a result of usually groups will go clear up what they should clear up,” Jones mentioned. “… You at all times count on groups to repair stuff, however we knew in the event that they did not get it mounted, we will go get us one.”
Santos’ blocked area aim wasn’t the one mishap by Chicago’s particular groups. Veteran return specialist DeAndre Carter muffed a punt within the third quarter after the ball hit the bottom and bounced off his proper leg. It was recovered by Minnesota’s Bo Richter at Chicago’s 15-yard line.
5 performs later, Vikings working again Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard landing to increase Minnesota’s result in 14.
“Acquired to get out of the way in which of the ball. That is on me,” Carter mentioned. “I let the crew down as we speak. Sport should not have been within the scenario it was in. I felt unhealthy for the fellows.”
Like Santos, Carter had a second of redemption later within the sport when he logged a 55-yard kickoff return to spark Chicago’s remaining landing drive that lower the Vikings’ result in 27-24.
Santos had a profitable onside kick on the following drive, however the Bears’ current struggles on particular groups will immediate coach Matt Eberflus to hunt extra involvement with that unit forward of Thursday’s sport towards the Detroit Lions.
“Yeah, little question,” Eberflus mentioned. “When you’ve got points on any a part of the crew, you bought to become involved. We’ve to ensure we clear up these issues.”
